Two candidates to face off in today’s Msambweni ODM ticket duel
Munira Mandano
Two candidates are set to face off for the Orange Democratic Movement (ODM) ticket in today’s primaries for the Msambweni parliamentary seat even as voters called for a free and transparent poll.
Those to battle for the ticket are Omar Boga; brother to Agriculture Permanent Secretary Hamisi Boga and Nicholas Zani brother of nominated senator Agnes Zani.
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The two candidates expressed confidence that they will clinch the party ticket for the by-election slated for December 15.
It will be a tricky poll as each of the candidates are said to have ‘god fathers’ at Orange House, the ODM headquarters.
Kwale County branch ODM chairman Hassan Mwanyoha yesterday said that the party will use all the 60 polling stations.
“ We will not merge the polling stations instead, all the 60 polling stations will be used during the exercise because it will be expensive to move voters from one area to the other,” Mwanyoha said.
“We have also been notified that both registers from IEBC and the party will be used during the nomination,” he said.
Mwanyoha also appealed to the supporters to vote their candidates in a peaceful manner as the party officials and IEBC will conduct a free and fair nomination.
Fishy game
“ I appeal to supporters to be calm and vote their candidates peacefully,” Mwanyoha said.
He also urged the ODM National Election Board (NEC) to make sure everything is conducted genuinely without favouring any of the candidates.
“Let the people decide on which candidate they want, through voting. Do not influence or favour anyone, let everything be a fair exercise,” he said.
Separately, ODM supporters led by Shaban Luchesi said that they had no information on the number of polling stations that will be used during the nomination.
“We are suspecting of a fishy game being planned and we are wondering. Whenever we inquire about the polling stations, the officials say that they are not aware,” Luchesi said.
He said that they hope the voting materials will arrive early and the exercise conducted within the stipulated time.
“If the process begins late it will give room to rigging. We are wondering why the NEC has not given us the list of polling stations,” he said.
There are also claims that it is not clear if it is the IEBC register that will be used or the party register.
